Lighting apparatus



y 1941; E. G. GAYNOR 2,241,360

LIGHTING APPARATUS Filed June 22, 1939 '29 INVENTOR [2/27 EDWIN c1. GAYNOR BY I Z 19 A ATTORNEY Patented May 6, 1941 LIGHTING APPARATUS Edwin G. Gaynor, Fairfield, Conn., assignor to The Wheeler Insulated Wire Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a. corporation of Connecticut Application June .22, 1939, Serial No. 280,483

Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in lighting systems or apparatus and has particular relation to the circuit and switches of lighting systems employing fiuorescent lamps.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved wiring arrangement for such lamps.

Another object is to provide improved switching means for use in the circuits of fluorescent lamps.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein satisfactory embodiments of the invention are shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows the wiring diagram of a single fluorescent lamp;

Fig. 2 shows the wiring diagram for a plurality of fluorescent lamps;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a switching means employed;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken as along the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken as along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one end portion of the lower part of the switching means of Fig. 3 and showing the arrangement of contact elements therein.

Fluorescent lamps as at present soldare in the form of glass tubes closed at their ends and coated on their inner surfaces with a powdered material which may be any one of several or a mixture of chemicals known as phosphers. These powders serve to transform short wave (ultra-violet rays) invisible radiation into visible light. The color of the light from the fluorescent lamps depends on the nature of the phospher used.

In making the lamps the tubes are evacuated and their ends sealed after the introduction of a small amount of mercury and also a low pressure of pure argon gas. The argon gas is in the nature of a priming material to facilitate starting of the lamp. At each end of the lamp tube are two external terminals connected to filaments located within the ends of the tube and each disposed across a pair of electrodes. The filaments are made of coiled tungsten wire coated with an active electron emissive material, as barium or strontium carbonates which in the manufacture of the lamp are decomposed into oxides. The tungsten wire is heated to incan descence by electricity in order both to vaporize the mercury and by virtue of the electron emission, abetted by the coating on it, to energize the argon gas.

Mercury at normal temperature is a liquid and therefore the drop of mercury must be vaporized to provide the vapor for the functioning of the lamp. The argon is a gas at normal temperature and therefore the arc starts in the argon gas and as this heats up the drop of mercury is vaporized and thereafter serves to conduct the current from one pair of electrodes to the other. Mercury is used as the vapor for the discharge of these lamps because of its high efficiency in producing ultra-violet rays of one way length. Such rays are as above suggested transformed into visible light by the coating of fluorescent materialon the inner surface of the tube.

Referringin detail to the drawing and at first more particularly to Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the reference numeral l0 generally designates a fluorescent lamp including the tube or bulb ll coated on its inner surface as above described. Within the end portions of the bulb H are filaments l2 and I3 each having a pair of terminals located at the outer side of the bulb and designated l4 and I5 and I6 and I1 respectively. The filaments l2 and I3 are arranged across pairs of electrodes l2 and I3 respectively. A wire 18 connects lamp terminal I4 with a contact element 19 while a wire 20 con nects terminal IS with a contact element 2!. Both the elements 19 and H are parts of a switching means generally designated 22 and the details through 6.

Switching means 22 includes a body of insuof which are shown in Figs. 3

lating material comprising upper and lower por-.

28 and 29.

Contact elements l9 and 2i are located against the bottom wall of pocket 29 in spaced relation (see Fig. 6) and are adapted to be connected electrically by a contact 30 mounted on a pushbutton 3|. Button 3| is of hollow construction and includes a part 32 to be engaged by the finger of an operator and a part 33 of'greater diameter and located for movement toward and from the elements l9 and 2|.

A coil spring 34 bears at its lower end against the bottom wall of pocket 29 and enters the push-button 3| and serves to normally maintain the latter in its upper position with its portion 33 of larger diameter against the inner surface of the body portion 23 and thus with the contact 36 spaced from the elements l9 and 2|. Element or contact 36 is somewhat the shape of a. washer or is an annulus and the spring 34 passses through the central opening thereof.

A pair of lugs 35 are lanced and pressed from the element 36 and bent upwardly over the portion 33 of the push-button and serve to attach the element of contact to the button. It will be clear that on the push-button being pressed downwardly against the action of the coil spring 34 the contact 36 will engage the elements l9 and 2| and close the circuit through them. Immediately the push-button is released the spring 34 will return the-parts to their normal positions spacing contact 36 from elements l6 and 2|.

Operating in the pocket 28 of the switching means 22 is a push-button 36 including a finger engaging portion 31 and an inner portion 38 of larger diameter. upper side thereof are spaced contact elements 39 and 46. A contact 4| has lugs 42 lanced and pressed therefrom and bent about the pushbutton portion 38 whereby said contact is attached to the button. Said push-button is hollow and receives a portion of a coil spring 43 which at its lower end bears against the lower wall of the pocket 28. Obviously spring 43 normally maintains the push-button 36 in the upper position in which it is shown whereby the contact 4| is normally in engagement with the contact elements 39 and 40. On the push-button 36 being depressed contact 4| will be carried away from elements 39 and 46 and any circuit containing said elements opened.

Referring back to Fig. 1 it is noted that a lead-in wire 44 is connected with the lamp terminal l5 while a lead-in wire 45 has a choke coil 46 connected therein and then connects with the switch contact 39. A wire 4? connects switch contact element 46 with the terminal H of the lamp I6. Arranged across the normally open switch is a condenser C serving to prevent radio interference.

With this arrangement the lead in wires 44 and 45 being connected with a source of electricity, and the switch means being normal, the voltage will be continuously impressed on the lamp filaments l2 and I3 and the electrodes associated therewith. To start the lamp it is now but necessary to depress the push-button 3| to have the contact 36 momentarily close the circuit through the elements l9 and 2|. Then the completed circuit is through wire 45, choke 46, the normally closed switch controlled by the push-button 36, wire 41, filament I2, wire 26, element 2|, contact 36, element l9, wire I8, filament l3 and wire.

The filaments are thus energized and heat up and place the lamp vapor in receptive condition for functioning of, the lamp on the circuit voltage being again impressed on the electrodes I2 and I3 when the push-button 3| is released and the element 36 moved from engagement with elements l9 and 2| by the spring 34. Immedi- Also in this pocket but at the ately the lamp vapor becomes receptive the push-button 3| is released and thus while the lamp is functioning the conductor between the electrodes l2 and the electrodes l3 is the mercury vapor in the bulb.

To extinguish the lamp the push-button 36 is momentarily depressed to move contact 4| from elements 39 and 46 thus opening the'clrcuit. As the lamp is extinguished the lamp vapor returns to normal condition or to a condition in which it is non-receptive to the functioning of the lamp. Therefore on release of the push-button 36, following depression thereof, its return to normal position by the spring 43 will not result in the lamp operating since the vapor of the lamp will not be in a condition for functioning of the lamp and the switch controlled by button 3| will be open.

Thus by alternately depressing the buttons 3| and 36 the lamp |6 may be energized and extinguished. The buttons do not have to be maintained depressed for any appreciable time interval and with the circuit shown the lamp may be extinguished and immediately thereafter illuminated. Attention is directed to the fact that with the present arrangement should the lamp be in a particularly cold location the button 3| may be held depressed for a greater length of time to make sure the lamp vapor is in. condition for functioning of the lamp when the button is released. Alternatively the button may be repeatedly depressed until the lamp starts to function.

Fig. 2 shows a wiring diagram for use where a plurality of the fluorescent lamps are involved. In this figure certain parts are identical with those of Figs. 1 and 3 through 6 but have been given different reference characters to avoid confusion. Thus while the circuit in Fig. 2 may be used with any number of lamps but two are shown and they are designated 56 and 5| and each is identical in construction with the lamp l6 of Fig. 1.

Lamp 56 includes filaments 53 and 54 to which are connected pairs of terminals 55 and 56 and 51 and 58 respectively. Lamp 5| includes filaments 59 and 66 and the pairs of terminals 6| and 62 and 63 and 64 associated with the respective filaments. Thus each filament has a pair of The main power or feed lines are represented Q at H and. 12 and line I2 is connected with the lamp terminals 58 and 64 of the lamps 56 and 5| respectively. A wire 13 connects the terminal 63 of lamp 5| with the element 14 of a normally open switch while a corresponding wire I5 connects terminal 51 of lamp 56 with a corresponding element 16 of another normally open switch. Such normally open switches are controlled by pushbuttons 11 and 18 respectively and these buttons and the parts coacting therewith are but duplicates of the button 3| and the parts associated therewith as previously described.

A wire 19 connects a switch contact element 86 with the terminal 55 of the lamp 56 while a wire 8i connects the terminal H of lamp with a I switch contact element 82. Feed line H through a choke coil 83 connects with a stationary contact element 84 of a normally closed switch controlled by a push-button 85 which with its assoelated parts is of exactly the same construction as that of the push-button 36 and its associated parts. The other stationary contact element 86 of said normally closed switch is connected by a wire 81 with the terminal 56 of the lamp 50.

Through a choke coil 88 feed wire II is connected with a stationary contact element 89 of a normally closed switchingmeans which latter is controlled by a push-button 90. Said push-button together with its associated parts is of the construction of the normally closed switchin means previously described. The other stationary contact element SI of said normally closed switch is connected by means of a wire 82 with the terminallil of the lamp 5|. Arranged in the lamp circuits and associated with the normally open switches 11 and 18 are condensers C.

The push-buttons 12 and 18 of the normally open switches carry contacts 93 and 88 respectively, for engagement, when such push-buttons are depressed, with the pairs of stationary contact elements 14 and 82 and I6 and 88 respectively. Coil springs 95 normally maintain such push-buttons in raised positions with their contacts 93 and 94 spaced from the contact elements with which they are associated. Contacts 86 and 91 carried by the push-buttons 85 and. 90 respectively are normally positioned closing the circuit through the pairs of stationary contact elements 84 and 86 and 89 and 9| respectively. Coil springs 98 function for this purpose. Thus it will be clear that the push-buttons I1 and 18 control the normally open switches while push-buttons 85 and 90 control normally closed switches.

In the power or feed line H is a main switch 99. When switch 99 is closed the lamp 58 may be energized by momentarily depressing the pushbutton 18 whereupon the circuit will be completed through the lamp filaments and the same will be heated up and the vapor of the lamp placed in a receptive condition for functioning of the lamp. Thus when the button is thereafter released and returned to normal position the voltage will be returned to the electrodes and the lamp will function as will be understood. To extinguish the lamp the button 85 is momentarily depressed to open the circuit between contact elements 84 and 86 causing the lamp to go out and the lamp vapor to return to a non-receptive condition for functioning of the lamp except on the button I8 being again momentarily depressed.

To energize the lamp 5| the button 11 is momentarily depressed. The action will be that described above and the lamp will be illuminated. To extinguish such lamp the button 90 is momentarily depressed to open the circuit-between,

the contact elements 89 and 9|. Now on opening of the main switch 99 should any lamps connected in the power line be operating they will be deenergized and when such main switch is again closed said lamps will remain extinguished.

One advantage of this arrangement will be noted. For example, where a large number of the lamps are associated with various desks, machines, and the like, should some of the lamps be left burning it will not be necessary for a watchman or the'like to go about opening the normally closed switches associated with the individual lamps. He may open and close the main switch 99 and extinguish the lamps and they will remain extinguished until the normally open switches associated with the respective lamps are again momentarily closed. However, any of the usual incandescent lamps arranged at exits, stairways, and the like and included in the main circuit will be re-energized when said main switch is closed.

From the above it will be clear that with respect to Fig. 2 the lamps may be energized and deenergized independent of one another by manual manipulation of the normally open and normally closed switching means disclosed. Further it will be clear that on opening of the main switch 99 the entire bank of lamps may be extinguished and will remain so on closing of the main switch whereby it is not necessary to keep such main switch open in order that the lamps remain extinguished.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a lighting system, a fluorescent lamp comprising a tube having filaments spaced therein to form a gap therebetween; means for connecting the filaments to a source of energy capable of maintaining a flow of electrons in said tube across said gap betweensaid filaments upon the tube being rendered conductive; means, including a manually operable switch normally urged to open-circuit position, for connecting the filaments to close the gap between'said filaments upon momentary operation of said switch to cause current to flow through said filaments and heat the same to render said tube conductive; and means operable independently of said firstnamed means, including a manually operable switch normally urged to closed-circuit position, for momentarily disconnecting said filaments from said source of energy to stop the flow of electrons in said tube until said tube has again been rendered conductive by said first named switch.

2'. In a lighting system, a flourescent lamp having spaced pairs of electrodes and a filament across each pair of said electrodes; a pair of terminals associated with each filament and its electrodes; means, including leads connected respectively with a terminal of each pair, for connecting said lamp to a source of electricity sufficient to maintain a flow of electrons in the lamp when said lamp is conductive; a circuit-between the other terminals of said pairs, including manually operable switch means normally urged to open-circuit position, adapted when operated to momentarily close said circuit to render said lamp conductive; and means, including a second manually operable switch in circuit with said leads normally urged to closed position and adapted to be momentarily operated to temporarily open said circuit to said source of energy and stop said flow of electrons ting the lamp is again rendered conductive by operation of said first-named switch means. l

3. In a lighting system, a fluorescent lamp having spaced pairs of electrodes and a filament across each pair of electrodes; a pair of terminals associated with'each filament and its electrodes;

, means, including leads, for connecting a terminal of each pair with a source of electricity suflicierit to operate the lamp; manually operable switching means separate from said first-named means in circuit with said leads and normally urged to closed-circuit position whereby the voltage from said source will be continuously impressed between said pairs of electrodes when said leads are connected to said source of energy; and a circuit between the other terminals of said pairs including manually operable switching means normallyurged to open-circuit position and adapted to be momentarily closed to cause the filaments to heat up and put the vapor in the lamp in receptive condition for functioning of the lamp when the voltage is fully restorted to said electrodes upon said switching means returning to open-cir cuit position, said first-named switching means being adapted to thereafter be manually operated to open the lead and remove the electric pressure from the electrodes and cause the lamp to go out and the vapor in the lamp to return to a non-receptive condition for the functioning of the lamp when said voltage is again impressed between the electrodes upon said first-named switching means being allowed to again close the circuit.

I 4. In a lighting system, a plurality of fiuorescent lamps each comprising a tube having filaments spaced therein to form a gap therebetween;

the gap between said filaments upon momentary,

operation of said switch to cause current to flow through said filaments and heat the same to render said tube conductive; and means, includ- Qan as ing a manually operable switch normally urged to closed-circuit position, connected between the filament for each tube and said first-named means and operable independently of said firstnamed means for momentarily disconnecting the associated filament from said source of energy, whereby the flow of electrons in each tube may be independently stopped and the tube becomes inoperative until again rendered conductive by operation of said first-named switch.

5. In a lighting system including a fluorescent lamp having a pair of spaced filaments adapted to be connected to a source of energy capable of maintaining a flow of electrons between said filaments and a starter circuit for heating said filaments to render said lamp conductive, the combination of a control unit having two manually operable switches therein, one of said switches being normally urged to closed-circuit position and having contacts normally connecting the filaments to the source of energy and the other of said switches being normally urged to open-circuit position and having contacts normally connected in and forming a gap in the starter circuit whereby momentary operation of said second switch temporarily closes the circuit to heat the filaments and cause the lamp to become conductive and momentary operation of the first switch temporarily opens the circuit to the lamp and renders the lamp nonconductive.

EDNIN G. GAYNOR. 

